Hotel Quarantine For Arrivals In UK From High Risk Countries Starting 15 February

Travellers arriving in the UK from high risk countries will have to quarantine in hotels from 15 February.

People touching down from countries on the Covid-19 travel ban list will have to self isolate in a government-approved facility for 10 days.

Further details will be set out next week on how passengers will be able to book into the designated accommodation facilities.

PA

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said the measure was needed to clamp down on the threat posed by new variants of the disease.

They said: "Throughout the pandemic, the government has put in place proportionate measures, informed by the advice of scientists, and that has led to some of the toughest border regimes in the world.

"It is currently illegal to go on holiday, and passengers travelling to the UK must provide proof of a negative test before they travel, and self-isolate on arrival.

"With increased police presence at airports and more physical checks at addresses to make sure people are self-isolating, we are taking decisive action.

"We are now working at pace to secure the facilities we need to roll out managed quarantine for British nationals returning home from the most high risk countries, and are rightly engaging with representatives from the hospitality, maritime and aviation industry, and learning from our friends around the world.

"In the face of new variants, it is important that the government continues to take the necessary steps to protect people and save lives."

Prime Minister Boris Johnson outlined the tougher travel measures being introduced by the government at the House of Commons on Wednesday 27 January.

PA

He said: "We've already temporarily closed all travel corridors and we're already requiring anyone coming into this country to have proof of a negative Covid test taken in the 72 hours before leaving, they must also complete a passenger locator form which must be checked before they board and then quarantine on arrival for ten days.

"I want to make clear under the stay at home regulations it is illegal to leave home to travel abroad for leisure purposes and we will enforce this at ports and airports by asking people why they are leaving and instructing them to return home to if they do not have a valid reason.

"We have also banned all travel from 22 countries where there is known variants, including South Africa, Portugal and South American nations, and in order to reduce the risk posed by UK nationals and residents returning home from these countries, I can announce we will require all such arrivals, who cannot be refused entry, to isolate in government-provided accommodation, such as hotels, for 10 days without exception.

"They will be met at the airport and transported directly into quarantine."

You can find out more up to date information about the UK's Covid-19 international travel rules here.

Topics: UK News, Coronavirus, Covid-19

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey